Lake Hinkle In The Ouachita National Forest

Lake Hinkle A 960-acre lake known for its largemouth bass, crappie and catfish.
Lake Hinkle is in the heart of the Ouachita National Forest. Lake Hinkle is one of Arkansas’s premier fishing lakes and is managed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Lake Hinkle camping units includes a table, tent/trailer pad, cooking grill, lantern post and parking spur.

Restrooms with warm showers are within a reasonable walking distance. Travel trailers up to 35 feet long can be accommodated at camping units. A dump station is available near the entrance to the campground.

See The Fishing Tool Set Lake Ouachita Guides Recommend

The swimming area offers picnic tables, grills, a picnic shelter, a grassy beach, restrooms with warm showers and drinking fountains. The trailhead for Little Pines Hiking Trail is located just north of the picnic area.

Open Spring Through Fall:
Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors are welcome to stay in the campground as long as 14 days. A fee is charged for the use of the camping and/or swimming area. There is no charge for use of the accessible fishing pier, boat ramp or fish
cleaning station.

Current fees are posted at the self-service pay station, with instructions on how to pay.

Camping
overnight is permitted only in the camping area. Camping fees include use of the swimming area.

Directions:
From Waldron, Arkansas, drive west
on Highway 248 for 11-1/2 miles. Turn east (left) on County Road 10 for the entrance of the boating, swimming and camping areas.

Facilities at Lake Hinkle:

• 5 camping loops
• Restrooms with warm showers
• Picnic units
• Picnic shelter available first-come, first-served or through reservation by contacting the Poteau Ranger District.
• Swimming area with grass beach
• Little Pines Hiking Trail – 1-mile loop.
• Accessible fishing pier
• Boat ramp
• Fish cleaning station
• Dump station

For more information, contact:
Poteau Ranger District Ouachita National Forest
P.O. Box 2255 P.O. Box 1270
Intersection of Hwy. 71 & 248 Hot Springs AR 71902
Waldron, AR 71902
(479) 637-4174 Phone: (501) 321-5202
TDD: (501) 321-5307

Hunting is permitted in most areas of the Ouachita National Forest, it is not allowed in recreational areas.

All State hunting and fishing regulations, fees and seasons apply to national forest lands. Please read and follow the posted regulations and rules.

Visitors are responsible for their fires. Build them in stoves, grills and fire rings only.
Be a good neighbor

There is a fee to use this facility. Please pay at the self-service fee station.

Fishing or boating is not allowed in the swimming area

All pets must remain on a leash and are not allowed in the swimming area.

For wildlife viewing visit the Blue Moon Demonstration Area located 6 miles east on Highway 248.
A Visitor Information Center, open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, is located at the intersection of Highway 248 and the Highway 71 bypass in Waldron.